Thanks everyone for the sewing tips. In the end, I took my typical
shotgun approach, and did almost all of the things you all mentioned. I
increased thread tension and foot tension, changed my needle, sewed on the
narrow margin, and slowed WAY down. I finished the complete hammock Friday,
and it's great! Thanks ED for the great instructions in your book, and for the
items I purchased to make the hammock. The only modification I made was to
make a double bottom, since my biggest compalint with my Hennessey was having
to fight with a foam pad. The double bottom works really well, holds the pad
in place, and keeps it from bunching up under me. I was sceptical at first
about how comfortable the Speer Hammock would be compared to my Hennessey (and
I love my Hennessey), but it is without a doubt just as comfortable, and IMHO,
more versatile, thanks to the removeable bug net and large rain canopy. I
don't have a sil-nylon rain canopy yet, (that will be my next purchase from
ED), but using a mylar tarp made from a couple of space blankets, the
additional coverage is really nice.

Chet

Risk <geoflyfisher@...> wrote:

Everything
Shane said, and have several back up needles. I havebroken needles
on hook velcro several times making hammocks. Theplastic backing
is pretty stiff.

Rick

--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com,
Chester Clocksin<cclocksin@a...> wrote:> Shane, thanks for
the suggestions. I'll see if I can find some waxfor the thread, and I'm
not sure what kind of needle I have. Thanksfor the info.>
> Chet> > Shane Steinkamp <shane@t...>
wrote:> > I'm about 80% finished with my Home made speer hammock,
but> > having a problem sewing the velcro to the bugnet.
No> > problem at all sewing the soft side of the velco to
the> > nylon hammock body, but sewing the coarse side of
the> > velcro to the bug net causes a birds nest on the
bottom> > side of the stitching everytime. I've tried both
straight> > stitch and zig-zag, with no success. I'm new to
sewing, so> > I figure out of all the hammock making experts on
this> > list, someone must know a trick for sewing Velcro onto
bug> > netting. Anybody?> > Couple of
things...> > Make sure your needle is clean and sharp.
Use a thinner needle. Make sure> you're using a round needle, and
not a bladed needle. Make sureyour bobbin> tension isn't
too tight. Make sure your thread tension is tight enough.> Wax
your thread, or use a liquid thread wax. Put a lot of tensionon
your> material.> > Shane> > >
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